Otter Trail

The Otter hiking trail.

The Otter Trail hiking experience - a trail of wonder and delusions.

Description

The start of the trail is at  the Storms River mouth and ends at  Natures Valley in the Tsitsikamma National Park,  after an exhilarating 42km hike .

Sign in and buy a permit at the registration centre next to the entrance gate. You can watch an orientation video if time allows.
The start of the trail is about 1 kilometer  by road from the registration area.
Hit the trail and follow the yellow otter footprints.

Day 1 (Start to Ngubu)
The 4,7km you hike during the first day  takes you along the coastline along boulders through some forest and ends at the at Ngubu hut which is a cosy wooden cabin close to the sea. This is the shortest and flattest section of the hike.
Day 2 (Ngubu to Scott)
The 7.9kms on the second day, starts at the Ngubu hut and ends at the Scott Hut. Climb and then a walk through forest to rocky outcrop and vantage point called Skilderkrans across Kleinbos river along Blue Bay beach to end at Scott Hut.
Day 3 (Scott to Oakhurst)
The 7.7 kms on the third starts at Scott hut across the Geelhoutbos river along the coastline to the Elandsbos river along the coast over the Lottering river to end at the Oakhurst huts.
Day 4 (Oakhurst to Andre)
The13.8 kms on the fourth day starts at Oakhurst huts and a 10km walk takes you to the Bloukrans river estuary and takes approximately four and a half hours to reach. This river is best crossed during low tide and hikers should be prepared to float their packs across the river. Once the river has been crossed it is approximately another 3.8 kilometers to end at the overnight Andre huts.
Care must be taken to cross the river at low tide.
Day 5 (Andre to Nature's Valley)
The 6.8 kms on the last day  starts at the Andre huts over the Klip river with a climb to the top and along the edge of a cliff down to and across the Helpmekaar river along the beach to end in Nature's Valley, where tired hikers can relax , discuss and ponder over the great adventure of the Otter trail.
Natures Valley at trails end is a welcome site and a wonderful place to rest up before going back to daily life.

Please note:
Although along the Otter trail there is an abundance of water, it is advisable to take along some water purification tablets. Firewood is supplied at the overnight huts but may be wet after rains. There are braai areas at the huts, but taking along your own gas stove with cooking utensils is advisable. Be aware of the dates and the times of the high and low tides it is important when it comes to crossing the bigger rivers such as the Elandsbos and the Bloukrans Rivers.
There are several escape routes that lead to the N2. The Otter trail escape routes are indicated as E 1/ 6 on the map. Cell phone reception may be reached here.

Enquiries and bookings for the Otter trail:
National Parks Board
Telephone: +27 12 426 5111
Fax: +27 12 343 0905
Web: http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/